SYSK Tribute: Why does everyone love Dolly Parton? | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Hey everybody, Chuck here on a Wednesday. for an intro for a very special release. Uh because yesterday we learned that uh. music icon and. uh country music legend and. philanthropist and just allaround. amazing person, Dolly Parton passed away. after a short battle with cancer. And a. few years ago in April of 2023, we. recorded this episode, Why Does Everyone.

Love Dolly Parton? And you know, I think. that title, Josh came up with that title. and it really hits it on the head. Uh. she was a a beloved person that um seems. to have crossed different musical genres. of course and uh you know political. boundaries and uh she was just one of. those people that kind of everyone. seemed to be united in agreement that. Dolly Parton is and and was an amazing. human being. um that's the kind of thing we detail in. this episode and we try to get to the.

heart of why she's so beloved and um I. think for me uh Dolly was just someone. who it seemed like her guiding. principles were uh kindness and and love. and joy and that's seems to be what led. her to do just about everything in her. career and every decision she made and. people who she worked with and uh you. know nonprofit she decided to get. involved with and uh her certainly her.

philanthropic efforts and everything. that she gave to the world. It seems. like she led with her heart first and. that's just kind of a rare trait these. days. So, uh Dolly um was certainly a. rare breed and uh just a amazing woman. uh somebody who uh I think we can all. agree is uh should be revered and looked. up to and the world is a little uh. dimmer today without her light shining. So uh here we are today uh the day after.

she passed releasing the special. episode. Uh hoping everyone can uh can. give it a listen as we pay tribute to. the great Dolly Parton with our episode. from 2023. Why does everyone love Dolly. Parton? Welcome to Stuff You Should Know, a. production of iHeart Radio.

>> Hey, and welcome to the podcast. I'm. Josh and there's Chuck and Jerry's here, too. And today, we're going to make some. joyful noise together here on Stuff You. Should Know. >> That's right. I just poured myself a cup. of ambition. >> Uh-huh. I had a few of those this. morning. >> Before we dive into Dolly Parton land, we should talk about our tour really. quick because we're we're looking to. sell some more tickets specifically. Well, everywhere, but specifically DC. and Toronto, right? >> Yeah. For the whole the whole shebang,

we're going to be in DC, Boston, and. then Toronto May 4th, 5th, and 6th. Right. >> That's right. And there are plenty of. great seats available. Uh this is a. really good show. I think one of the. best ones we've done in a long time. And. uh if you're in the Northeast, like this. is it. We're not doing New York this. year. Very sorry, New York. >> But if you live in the Northeast, this. is this is your chance because we're. doing the Southeast in the fall and and. that's this is your opportunity. >> I think that's a great angle for this. marketing campaign here, Chuck.

>> Yeah. Northeast or bust. >> Okay, so that's enough about us. everybody. We're here to really talk. about Dolly. >> Yeah. So Livia helped us with this one. and you know we've remarked about how. Livia is getting great at titling. >> the articles even though she doesn't. even have to. >> right. >> she does it because she's creative and. talented. Uh and her title for this is. why does everyone love Dolly Barton. and we're going to explain that. But I I. think the easiest thing to say is since.

the 1970s, this is a woman who has. basically just put goodness into the. world at every turn. >> Yeah, for sure. I was reading an. interview with her in Rolling Stone from. 1980, like 9 to5 had just come out and. it you might as well have told me it was. from 2023. >> Yeah. >> She just she's been the same way this. whole time. like she she doesn't like. >> get into any political stuff. She said, "I'm not political. I won't talk about. politics." She doesn't she leaves hot.

button issues alone, but if it means. something to her, it's really. meaningful, she'll she'll come out on, you know, in favor of it, endorsing it, but she doesn't put anything down. She. might support something, but she's not. going to put anything down publicly. >> Yeah. So, the other kind of funny thing. about this one from Livia is uh she. always includes her sources and she may. have broken her own source record. >> Yeah, there's a lot. >> Oh boy, there were probably a hundred. sources. Uh but we did want to mention. one in particular uh because I listened.

to this uh from Jad Abomrad uh the great. Jad Abomrad of Radio Lab fame. >> uh like four years ago put out the. wonderful series Dolly Parton's America. >> Yeah. and Livia binged it and I listened. to it back then and back then I was like. oh man I want to do an episode on Dolly. Parton but it's like Jad did it like he. covered it so well like what's the point. kind of thing. >> right. >> uh but now four years on I was like well. we can give it this stuff you should. know treatment which is to say not as. not as deep a dive uh but it's a great.

series if you want to learn more about. Dolly Parton then check out Dolly. Parton's America. >> very nice and then just to button up. Chuck when we trying to answer that. question. Why does everybody love Dolly? >> Mhm. >> I I came up with another hypothesis, too. Um. >> Okay. >> And it's that, you know, when when. somebody is like they can be anything. anybody wants them to be, like they. they're interpretable from all different. angles, so everybody just assumes. they're like them.

>> Mhm. >> Dolly is not like that. Uhhuh. >> She is her own person who can't be. pigeonholed. >> into one box or another, right, >> but she's likable from all sides. >> Yeah. Like find someone that's going to. talk smack about Dolly Parton. >> and then you and I are going to have a. discussion in the parking lot with that. guy. It's a sad state of affairs though, dude, because there's think pieces all. over the internet about how it's just.

amazing that everybody doesn't hate. Dolly Parton. And it's like, good god. Like, this is what we've come to. >> Like, everybody hates everybody. casually. So, I mean, how does she. escaped it so long? And it's just like. such a sad state of affairs that that's. normalized by even writing pieces like. that. But they're out there for sure. But the upshot of it is people are. amazed that people don't hate Dolly. Parton. And it's true. People don't hate. Dolly Parton. >> Yeah. And she's she's someone that is so. I think kind of un universally beloved. and internationally beloved that um as.

you'll see later in this episode there. she's been studied by anthropologists. and sociologists. >> Yeah. >> Which is pretty amazing. Uh and so let's. let's start at the beginning, shall we? >> Wait, hold on. One more thing. >> Yeah. More praise. The other thing about. her I think that's so amazing and so. remarkable is that she, this is the. reason why everybody's just so. fascinated with her right now. She's. maybe the one person. >> who is straddling both sides of the.

political and social divide as wide as. it is in the United States today. >> and is not is not like hanging on by her. fingernails. She's like, I got a foot. here and I'm not lying about it. Got a. foot here. I'm not lying about that. either. I'm not right. >> I'm not trying to fool either side. This. is this is what I'm into and and you. know I like both of you basically. >> It's almost like being a genuine human. who 100% stays true to who they are is. something we should all aspire to. >> Sure. But it also shows she shows that.

that's such a rarity in this world. >> that that you can be globally beloved by. just doing that and also making like a. ton of really great music too. >> Well, yeah. I mean, come on. We're going. to talk about all this stuff. Um, but. can we go back to the beginning now? >> Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. >> Okay. Uh, hey, never apologize about. singing the praises of Dolly Parton. >> That's a great rule of thumb. >> The stuff you should know, motto. Uh, and I just can't wait till we get to the. Dollywood stuff because you you've been. and I have not. >> Um, all right. So, she was born uh,

Dolly Rebecca Parton uh, in 1946 in. January uh, 19th of 1946. >> in rural Tennessee. Uh, how do you. pronounce that? Is it Sevir County? I. think it's severe. >> Oh, it's it's just severe. >> I'm almost positive it's severe. >> Okay. See EV vi. And see immediately. this is uh I'm sure Jad's episode. pronounced it perfectly right off the. bat. I don't remember. >> Threw his face into his palm like these. guys.

>> Uh but she was born to a big family of. 12 kids. And it's kind of fun to look up. photos of Dolly and all her siblings. because you know a few of her sisters. look a lot like her. Um, all her. brothers look like, you know, they. should be like shooting pool down at the. pool hall. Yeah. >> You know, all very just sort of genuine. article Smoky Mountain Tennessee. foothills people. >> Yeah, for sure. And there were 12 of. them, did you say? >> 12 sibs, including her. The fourth. >> Yeah, the fourth of 12. And all 14.

people in her family lived in a two room. cabin. >> Poof. >> And I've seen a replica of this cabin. And it is no joke a two room cabin and. 14 people lived in it in the Smoky. Mountains. >> You mean two bedrooms with an office, right? >> Right. >> I mean two rooms, my friend, with the. outhouse, no running water, no. electricity. Like she grew up as as. Smoky Mountain as a Smoky Mountain. person can grow up. Like even people in.

other parts of Tennessee are like, "Wow.". >> Yeah. But she said she had a great. childhood running around just being. outside and and because she was the. fourth of 12, she wasn't particularly. like paid attention to, so she could. just kind of go off and do her own. thing. >> Yeah, I get the idea that they were. semiferal sort of mountain kids. >> Uh her granddad was a Pentecostal. minister, very fiery and brimstone. >> And she still, you know, mentions God a. lot. Um, I get the sense that she's a.

little less overtly religious, but. spirituality is still very much a a. mainstay in her life. >> Yeah. I think it's more of a personal. relationship between her and God. >> Yeah. Which is how it's supposed to be. So she really lucked out because she had. an uncle named Bill Owens who was a. musician, a songwriter who noticed that. she wanted to get into music from a very. young age and was maybe the only person. in her entire life or her early life. that that noticed and then nurtured it.

And she later said when he died a few. years back at his funeral, like she. wouldn't be here today if it wasn't him. Like she owed him everything because he. nurtured it in her. He encouraged her. He supported her when she got rejected. and he helped her break into the. business. So, Bill Owens was a huge. influence in her life. But he noticed, like I said, from a very early age, I. think she wrote her first song when she. was five. >> Yeah. Little tiny tassel top. >> uh about her homemade corn husk doll.

>> Uh and she would pretend, >> you know, she would get a a tobacco. stick and a tin can and act like it was. her microphone and mic stand. and. >> she would sing for the chickens in her. yard. >> and had obviously a real talent from the. beginning. Um, if you listen to her very. first recording, Puppy Love. >> from 1959. It sounds like, you know, 13-year-old Dolly Parton. You know, you. can hear Dolly in that young voice. Uh, and like I said, she was 13 and that was. the same year that she made her very.

first appearance at the Grand Old Opry, introduced by none other than Johnny. Cash. >> Yeah. Who was her first big crush. So it. was even amazing for her. >> Unbelievable. >> that her family didn't get to see it. though because Dolly Parton was on TV. before her family had a TV at home. >> Yeah. >> Which is pretty cool. Um. >> was it on TV back then? >> I believe she there was a TV appearance. Yes. >> Okay. >> Um and if it was if that one wasn't that. the first whenever it was she was on TV. first. It her family still didn't have a.

TV back then. >> Gotcha. So, um, thanks to, uh, Uncle. Billy taking her around and banging on. doors, she ended up making her her debut. on Mercury Records in 1962, which is. nothing to sneeze at, >> but I get the impression that it wasn't. like her it wasn't like a a like a, okay, this is a serious recording. contract. It's like a, okay, let's let's. test this girl out. Back then, they. called any woman in country music a girl. singer, >> right? So, she was a bit of a novelty,

not just because of her age, but because. she was a a woman as well, but she had. her sight set on becoming a country. music star. And so, the day after she. graduated high school, the day after she. graduated high school, she got on a bus. for Nashville and moved there. >> Yeah. Amazing. uh 1964. uh and very soon after she moved there, she met a man that would become her. husband and uh a mainstay in her life to. this day who is remarkably hard to find.

stuff about. His name is Carl Dean. They. met very famously at a laundromat when. she was 18 and he was 21. >> Uh married a couple of years later. And. >> I think a lot of people that don't know. a lot about uh Dolly Parton think she. might be single or something. uh because. she never had kids, but she's been. married to Carl Dean since 1966. And he. just he doesn't want to be in the. limelight. He never did. He's her. biggest fan and supporter. She's always. said, you know, off the stage, >> but he he just doesn't want any part of.

the limelight. And it's hard to even. find a lot of pictures of this guy. There's a handful out there, but he. started an asphalt laying business in. the late 70s. Still runs that business. today. Oh, really? >> Which is just amazing. And you I read an. article from a couple of years ago. She. was like, you know, Carl and I, we like. to run errands. She said, "We go to the. the 24-hour stores, you know, in the. middle of the night, like Walmart and. places." And she said, "And there are. fewer people there to come up to me.". And she said, "I don't mind it. I love. people." She said, "I just don't want it.

to get in the way of our shopping, >> right?". >> And you know, Carl's not wild about it. So, they just live a very simple kind of. pure life together, I think, outside the. limelight. >> Yeah. I've read an interview with her. somewhere and she said that in her. opinion if she's out in public that time. belongs to her fans. So she's not she. doesn't have a problem with people. coming up to her um asking for. autographs. She knows that she's out in. public and that's a risk that she runs. Right. >> Sure. >> But her her leisure time her time away. is like secluded off with Carl. Just the.

two of them usually. Maybe she has a. very close best friend. I can't remember. her name. And they they they go. everywhere together. So, she's almost. like a stand-in for Carl when Dolly's. traveling around. >> Yeah. And she's always been very her. persona is very flirty and she's always. sort of flirted around with I in fact. know friends that have worked on like. commercial shoots with her and they were. like, "Man, she's the biggest flirt you. would ever know." And that's just her. personality. And she said that Carl. understands that and that's just how she. sort of has fun and relates to people.

and it's always very innocent and uh I. just think it's kind of kind of cute and. fun. Yep, for sure. >> I want her to flirt with me, you know, I. think is what I'm saying. >> This this episode might be your big. break, Chuck. >> Yeah. >> So, um, would you just like turn bright. red and like dig your the toe of your. foot into the. >> I kind of am a little bright red. I. thought it was the stuff you should know. sign in here casting a a red beam on my. face, but. >> no, it's you thinking about being. flirted with by Dolly Parton. >> I know. Well, dude, I grew up as you.

did, but I'm, you know, a little bit. older. Like the heyday of early Dolly. was when I was a kid and of course my. dad was in love with her and. >> you know it was just she was one of the. biggest stars in the world and my. parents were kind of into country music. so she was. >> just sort of prevalent in our household. somehow. >> Yeah. My introduction to her was through. 9 to5 and my mom that that whole message. and the idea behind it was right up my. mom's alley. So she would watch it with. her hands clasped together at the side. of her face like just an ad adoration of.

everybody including Dolly Parton too. I. think um my family was never really into. country music so I think that that was. like a big introduction and probably a. win over for my family was 9 to5. >> Uh all right well we'll talk about 9 to5. and crossover success more. It's a good. setup but how about we take a break. >> Yes. >> And we'll be right back with more Dolly. Parton.

Okay, so we're talking about Dolly. becoming a star. like she's had a couple. record contracts, nothing serious. though. But then in 1965, she signed. with Monument Records. Uh that was her. big her first big record contract I I.

read. But they wanted her to be a pop. singer, which is kind of ironic because. she actually would kind of become a pop. singer later on in her career. But at. first she was like, "No way." Like she. have you seen my house and do you know. how many people are in my family? I'm. not a pop singer. I'm a country singer. Right. Yeah. >> So, she persisted and and hung in there. and they ended up um like folding and. giving in and she went on to become a. full-fledged country singer. >> Yeah. In 1967, her first record, Hello,

I'm Dolly. Uh which is just great how. they used to do records like that and. title them like that. >> Uh when you like introduce her to the. world. Um, but you know, as would become. a thing like in her career, most of the. songs that she's well known for, most of. the songs she's recorded, she's done, you know, plenty of covers cuz everyone. does that, especially in country music, but. >> she is most well known as a songwriter. Uh, and we'll we'll get into that more. in a little bit. But she wrote, uh, two,

now I Libya has a number 24, but I I saw. that they were both top 20 on the. country charts. Dumb Blonde, which is. written by a guy named Curly. >> Putman. >> Great name. And uh Something Fishy. written by Dolly. And I think the album. itself was a top 20 hit. Her debut right. off. >> crazy. >> You know, on the country charts. >> right right off out of the gate. >> Yes. I was looking up Something Fishy. and it's about a woman who's um become. convinced that her husband's fishing.

trips aren't actually fishing trips and. that he's running around on her. Yeah. >> So, one of the lines is, "I guess some. largemouth bass left that lipstick on. your shirt." I don't think you're a. fisherman, honey. I think you're a. flirt. >> That's like perfect debut dolly. Like, at what age? Like 19, I think, is how. old she was. Yeah, that's pretty great. >> Uh, and Porter Wagner is someone that we. talked about on our Grand Old Opry show. >> Um, and he had the Porter Wagner show. Mh. >> He hires young Dolly to replace his.

other uh young woman sidekick singer. >> Uh and basically she elevated the show. to the point where it was a number one. the number one syndicated show in the. country radio show. >> Right. >> And they started doing duets together. and albums together uh including their. first one just between you and me in. 1968. >> Yeah. And they started touring a lot. too. And she learned a tremendous amount. about touring performing live. the the. music business, everything she needed to. learn early on uh came from um touring.

with Porter Wagner, but he was also. really well aware that he had like a a a. real cash register on his hands. >> Yeah. >> And he kept her under his thumb as much. as as he could, both emotionally. blackmailing her, I get the impression, but also locking her into just really. exploitive contracts because she might. not have known what she was signing. He. probably did and just figured like, okay, at least it's going to help me get. to where I'm going. That's the likelier. explanation if you ask me. But he was.

definitely in charge for uh the first. many years of her her serious career. >> Yeah. But because she's Dolly Parton and. so beloved, >> uh when they eventually broke up their. relationship, I think it was kind of. rough. Uh, and she ended up writing a. song, I will always love you, about that. relationship. And ultimately they worked. it out and she reconciled and was at his. deathbed with his family. And it was. kind of one of those no hard feelings. kind of situations.

>> Oh, really? I read that his last dying. words were, "I'll never forgive you.". >> That's what I'm going to say on my. deathbed. >> No, >> I'm just going to like wave my finger. around the room to everybody standing. there. >> and we're all going to be like, "Is he. talking about me?". >> Exactly. You guys can spend the rest of. your lives figuring it out. >> and Yumi will just look at me and say. he's talking about you. >> Totally. >> Uh so they uh while they were a. >> duet wait hold on one more thing. You.

brought up I will always love you which. everybody knows one of probably her most. one of her most famous songs. Arguably. her other most famous song Jolene. >> Yeah. >> Great song. >> She apparently wrote those songs on the. same day start to finish. Isn't that amazing? >> Yeah. I mean, she she now says like, you. know, if it wasn't the same day, it was. in the within a couple of days of each. other. But like either way, >> it's remarkable. >> Yeah. And it's possible it was the same. day. She just doesn't remember. But that. really like kind of goes to show what.

kind of uh she she was drinking cups of. ambition left and right apparently. because not only is that story. potentially true, she also put out 25. albums. Yeah. >> Both duets with Porter Wagner and then. some solo albums in the five-year period. between 1968 and 1973. >> Yeah. I mean, that's remarkable. She. started um and that's kind of where I. was headed anyway. She kind of started. recording her own solo stuff as she was,

you know, it was kind of obvious. She. just had she was too prolific of a. songwriter. I mean, she supposedly her. quote is that she's written more than. 3,000 songs and three of them are good. Uh she's also humble. Another reason. people love Dolly Part Barton. >> Um but she she had too much to say early. on and so started making solo records. while she was still with Wagner. And it. was in that that time period I think in. the early '7s is when you know those. iconic songs Jolene and I will Always. Love You came out,

>> right? But still under the toutelage of. Porter Wagner, right? >> Yeah. I mean those are solo albums and I. think I will Always Love You is about. them splitting apart. So, it was sort of. right there at the end. I think. >> it definitely was. And I I heard a story. years back that he said, "Okay, I'll let. you out of your contract if you let me. produce this amazing song.". >> And she agreed to it. Yeah. I will. always love you. Right. And then. apparently he turned around and sued her. anyway for breach of contract. >> But she she got out of it. She got out.

of this this this. terrible contract, this exploitive. contract. She got out from under a very. doineering mentor. And this is a really. big time of transition for her because. not only did she get away from Porter. Wagner, which was enormous because in in. a sense, um, she was like a pinball that. had just been plunged when she was. released from from Porter Wagner just. looking for like the the next bumper to. just shoot her off in another direction. >> That's my analogy, buddy.

>> Yeah. >> And that's exactly what happened. But. she also had to break up with her family. band. like they were her original. backing band. She had to be like, I I. gotta get better musicians, you guys. And she made some really hard decisions, but they they ended up paying off. And. from what I understand, there were no. lasting hard feelings from it. >> Yeah, that's pretty great. Um, she. hosted a TV show for one season just. like us. >> Uh, it was called Dolly. You know, back. then they had all those great variety.

shows. Uh, this was 76 into 77. And then. a very important uh man comes into her. life by the name of uh Sandy Gallon who. was a. Uber manager. Uh got the Beatles on Ed. Sullivan would later manage Michael. Jackson and Barbara Stryand and Share. >> and Sandy Gallon was a a pretty. instrumental person for a couple. reasons. One is. >> um kind of encouraging the crossover. success. Yeah. like he booked her at the.

bottom line in the Greenwich Village who. you know everyone from Springsteen to. Lou Reed were playing there. >> like Andy Warhol came and watched her. show. There's an awesome picture of them. sitting together. >> Yeah. Talk about crossover. >> Yeah. Exactly. And she was nervous. I. saw that she was nervous on the on the. way to being scared. >> I'm sure. >> Yeah. >> Uh he had her tour Europe, exposed her. internationally. Um, uh, he, uh, took. her to Studio 54, which is probably. where she also hung out with Andy.

Warhol. >> Mhm. >> Um, but the other big reason is that. Sandy Gallon was gay. Uh, he died like 5. years ago, and this was um, a very. instrumental relationship and and I get. the impression, you know, Dolly is very. famous for being sort of an icon in the. LGTQ community. >> Yeah. From very early on. >> Yeah. And I and it seems like this is. kind of where it all started was um. having this relationship with Sandy and. you know just the the gay community.

wrapping their arms around her early on. Not necessarily because you know she had. a gay manager but you know I don't think. it hurt. >> Right. And the New York Times wrote that. she got a warm welcome in San Francisco. from transgender fans um and quote other. exotic urban cult audiences. Well, Dolly's always said, you know, she's one of those love is love types. and uh you know, it's just like it's the. way to live life. Like she doesn't judge. people.

>> and she never has and she's always just. embraced like whatever community wants. to love her music. Like why would she I. never get it when people like. intentionally sort of turn audiences. off, >> right? >> You know? >> Yeah. No, for sure. Um for sure. But. also like it's that's so true and it's. so prevalent when when you read about. her or watch interviews with her or just. listen to her talk. You're almost like, "What's your angle, Dolly?". >> Right?

>> What are you really up to here? >> Uh her big uh crossover hit was Here You. Come Again, which was considered a pop. song. I mean, I've always kind of. thought it was a country song, I guess, cuz her voice is in it. and she insisted. on steel guitar. Uh, so it still had a. little country tinge to it, >> but it's like a huge song. It's a. perfect crossover. Like, it's exactly. perfectly balanced. Like, there couldn't. have been a better song to transition. from full-on country singer to country.

pop singer. >> Yeah. And what? It went number one on. the country chart, number three on the. pop charts. >> Album went platinum. And this is, you. know, the late '7s when she really, really, really blew up. >> Yeah. That was that she just took off. like a rocket from there. Um, one of the. things that she did very wisely uh in. the late 70s, early 80s, right around. this time, was just hop on the the um TV. circuit. >> Yeah. >> She's been on at least a few hundred TV.

appearances, but a lot of them took. place in the 70s and 80s when she was. just making herself known, making. herself a household name. Uh, and none. of this was by accident. like she's. she's she's wanted to to be an a mega. star since she was a kid. And this was. part of she she apparently makes a lot. of lists. Um and they turned out to kind. of be five-year plans. And I'm sure. >> getting on the talk show circuit was. part of one of those lists. >> And that explains why as a kid growing. up in the 70s, I saw a lot of Dolly.

Parton. >> Exactly. >> She was everywhere. >> Dolly wanted you to see a lot of Dolly. Parton. uh in the 80s is when she continued uh. some of her uh collaborations with other. artists very famously with Kenny Rogers. with Islands in the Stream. Huge massive. hit. >> Haven't heard it. >> Uh and then 1987, my favorite uh. collaboration at least came out and. maybe my favorite Dolly stuff period. Oh. yeah. >> Uh was the album Trio. Yeah. That she. recorded with Linda Ronstat and Emily.

Louu Harris. um just three of the best. voices in the history of music coming. together to sing together. Uh they ended. up making three albums over the years. together. Uh so if you haven't listened. to any of this stuff, highly recommend. Trio from 1987. >> She also released some bluegrass albums. in the late 90s. Um The Grass is Blue, Little Sparrow, Halos and Horns. And. then um she released her first Christmas. album in 30 years back in 2020, a Holly. Dolly Christmas, which uh is pretty.

good. It's cute. Um but I think the best. Christmas album she released was Once. Upon a Christmas in 1984. There's a lot of Kenny Rogers on it. >> I made a joke this last Christmas on. Instagram. I think that like probably. 50% of Dolly Parton's Christmas songs. are about sex. >> It's true. where there's like sexual. overtones, right? Exactly. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's good stuff. >> But that um that 1984 album has hard. candy Christmas on it, which is.

>> Well, there you have it. >> Maybe your best her best one if you ask. me. >> Great song. Uh all right, so now let's. talk a little bit more about her. songwriting. Uh I think that's the thing. that she's sort of most proud of. Um, she said in uh a 2020 book, uh, if I had. to choose just one thing to be, I would. choose to be a songwriter. Um, she's. always said that she loves writing from. the male point of view. She loves. writing songs for men because a lot of. her songs are sort of narrative story.

type songs. Uh, and she has written a. lot of big huge hits for people like. Merl Haggard and Kenny Rogers and Hank. Williams Jr. and all kinds of dudes, >> right? She also plays a bunch of. instruments. The guitar she says is her. strongest. And there's a lot of other. string instruments that she can play. I. saw a video of one of her concerts. She's got a banjo slung around her. >> Yeah. >> her like a she's got a strap hanging. from a strap while she's playing a. fiddle really fast. It's pretty amazing. >> But if you really want to be amazed by.

Dolly, you should watch her play the. saxophone. And in particular in at the. Glastonbury Music Festival in 2014 in. the UK in front of a crowd of a hundred. thousand, she busted out Yaky Sachs. Yeah. >> The Benny Hill theme song. >> and it just killed. >> it did. That whole show is a fun watch. because it's, you know, it's in it's at. the Glastonbury Festival and it's like I. don't know. I think her legendary status. just like grew with that appearance.

>> Oh yeah. like she was, you know, kind of. a cult favorite in the UK and then she. became like a a like a pop culture. favorite after that show. >> Yeah. Uh 9 to5, the movie that you. mentioned before in 1980 is when she got. into movie making and it is a movie boy, not only does it hold up today, but it. is was ahead of its time and like even. more relevant today than it probably was. then, >> which is sad if you stop and think about. it. >> No, no, totally sad. >> But it was based on an actual movement. called 9 to5. the 9 to5 movement from.

the early 70s that I guess Jane Fonda. was aware of um because she was one of. the creators behind the movie 9 to5 and. that was an actual like movement led by. secretaries starting in Boston and it. spread around the country and they were. um protesting sexual harassment low pay. getting passed over promotions. >> and they had a great uh slogan that I. saw raises not roses. >> raises not roses yeah. >> I love that. >> I love it Like I don't need your flowers.

t-shirt. Exactly. >> How about some money? >> Exactly. >> I'll buy my own flowers. >> Right. I can buy my own flowers. >> Yeah, that's what the back of the. t-shirt said. >> And then parenthesis, quit pinching my. butt. >> Plus also that's a Miley Cyrus song who. is Dolly Parton's goddaughter. >> That's right. >> Yeah. >> And Dolly credits that relationship with. the fact that millennials love Dolly. >> Yeah. I I wasn't aware of this. So, everybody knows, even I know that Miley.

Cyrus was Hannah Montana on Nickelodeon. from I think 2006 to 2011, right? Um, and she would have Dolly on here or. there is Aunt Dolly, like her aunt, Hannah Montana's aunt. And I guess like. millennials just grew up watching that. and that she just exposed herself, not. literally, but figuratively, to an. entirely new generation and it stuck. Like that's that's how they that's how. they met Dolly and they just kept. following her and loving her from that. point on. >> I love it. Me too.

>> Uh she was in a bunch of movies over the. years. Uh best little house in. Texas with Bert Reynolds of course. Uh. part of the ensemble and Steel. Magnolia's. Uh very disappointingly. Olivia doesn't mention my favorite Dolly. second favorite Dolly Parton movie uh. which was Rhinestone with. >> Sylvester Stallone. >> One of my big HBO movies early on. I. watched that thing over and over again. Stallone sings. Have you ever seen it? >> No, I never have. I turned I turned the. TV off after Life Force. >> Uh,

you should check out Rhinestone because. she, you know, the the premise is she's. uh to make a country star out of. Sylvester. >> Stallone. >> And he has a song in there called. Drinkenstein. instead of Frankenstein. >> And the chorus is Budweiser, you've. created a monster. And they call him. Frankenstein. >> Wow. But Stallone really sings and it's. just I I think it's known probably as a. bad movie, but it has a very special. place in my heart. >> It sounds like the prequel to Tulsa. King.

>> So, um, she also did you mention Sand. Dollar yet? >> No. >> She founded a production company with. Sandy Gallon, um, her longtime manager. and friend, and they went on to produce. movies like Father of the Bride. >> Yeah. >> Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the movie. >> Yeah. She also did uh Straight Talk, which she was in, um where she plays a a. a woman who accidentally becomes a radio. host and of course just shoots into the. stratosphere and popularity.

>> I never saw that. >> Oh yeah, it was it was okay. >> Okay. >> Not her best work, but still. She was. amazing at Steel Magnolia. I mean, like. if you if you go back and and Yeah. If. you go back and watch some of those. scenes between her and her husband in. particular, it's she's a really good. actress. >> No, she's good. Uh, and in fact, but the. Shelby I just did was more Sally Field. >> now that I think about it. >> I detected a hint of Sally Field in. there. >> Uh, all right. I think let's take.

another break and then we'll uh this. one's going to go a little long, but. that's okay. Uh, because we're about to. dive into Dollywood right after this, >> Shelby. All.

right, my friend. Here we are. Mhm. >> Uh I'll set it up with how it starts and. then you can just take over because. you've actually been there. >> Mh. >> Um but in an interview in 1982 with uh. Barbara Walters, Dolly Parton said. something about being interested in. opening up a theme park back home. >> Yeah. >> And there was a theme park uh Silver. Dollar City in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. And the owners Jack and Pete Hersand.

heard this interview, gave her a call, and was like, "Let's get together on. this." and they did to great success. >> Yeah. Four years later, Dollywood. opened. It reopened as Dollywood, I. should say. Um just that first year, they doubled their um entries to to 1.3. million people coming. >> Yeah. >> Um and that's not just a full year. Like. it snows and everything kind of shuts. down uh in the wintertime in in in. Pigeon Forger in the Smokies. So, um I'm. guessing they crammed a lot of those.

people in in a very short amount of. time, probably summer. I don't know why. I'm going off on this tangent, but it. just seemed important when I saw. >> how theme parks work, right? >> They close in the winter. >> Be quiet, Chu. So, um, so it was a. success right out of the gate, I should. say. And little known fact, or it's a. rumor that a lot of people don't realize. is actual fact there. She they buried a. time capsule there on opening day, and. it contains an unreleased Dolly song. >> No way. >> That that is not to be opened until I. think she's 99 years old. >> Wow.

>> Mhm. which is what what is she now? 76. >> 78 I think. >> Okay. So, it's it's close. >> Yeah, we can wait. >> She sees it. Yeah. >> But we'll wait. >> So, tell me about Dollywood. I want to I. want to know more. >> So, it is a you can definitely believe. that it used to be a silver dollar city. They preserved a lot of stuff. There's a. coal fired um train that kind of takes. you around on some neat vistas and. everything. There's um we went and we. went around Christmas time which kind of. undermines my argument about things.

shutting down in the winter. Um we went. for Yumi's birthday actually like one. year and um there was like a Christmas. show where there was like singing and. dancing but it was so corny that I was. waiting for everybody to be like oh you. know we're just joking here's the real. show. It never happened. It was just. that like kitschy and American and. earnest. Yeah. and just corny, but it. was very sweet in retrospect, especially. hard to sit through, but very sweet. Um, and then there's just a lot of like. people dipping candles. There's tons of. food to eat. The there's a a roller.

coaster that neither Yumi nor I went on, but there's um a museum there that's. closed temporarily because apparently. they're reimagining it. But it was. originally called the Chasing Rainbows. Museum, and Dolly Parton is a just a. self-professed packrat. She saved. everything, Chuck. >> Mhm. >> Everything. The code of many colors that. she sings about, it's there. You can see. it in real life right there. And it's. the tiniest, cutest little thing you've.

ever seen in your entire life. It's so. tiny. And. >> this is the code her mom made for her. when she was a kid, right, out of old. rags. >> that she sang about in that coat of many. colors. And it's what a great song. But. then just to just to love that song and. then see the actual coat and then just. see how dinky it is. >> It was just amazing. those lists I told. you she used to keep. She kept those. Those are on display. Wigs, rhinestones. everywhere. But it's it's not just like. this ode or tribute to Dolly. It's a. genuine like curated look into her whole.

career. And it's it was one of the best. museums I've ever been to in my life of. any kind. >> Why didn't you guys ride the roller. coaster? >> We're both scared of roller coasters. >> Oh, I don't think I remembered that. Yes, I've been scared of roller coasters. for decades, but I feel like I'm. starting to come out of it. >> Okay. >> And I might go challenge myself and ride. a few roller coasters this summer. Uh, and see if I'm correct or if I'm really, really wrong. >> Well, you should go to Six Flags with uh. Ruby and I because there's nothing like.

getting your courage worked up than a. seven-year-old who will ride anything. >> Okay. >> Staring you in the face. >> Okay. All right. I may use that. That's. just the elixir I'm looking for. >> Yeah. Yeah. She'll go on whatever and. she's just like she wouldn't understand. She'd be like, "Why don't you want to go. on it?" What do you mean you're scared? >> I don't. You're You're kind of ruining. things for me. >> Uh, well, I want to go to Dollywood so. maybe we can go to Six Flags and then. Dollywood and just do a theme park. roundup. >> I strongly recommend it because it. there's like all sorts of stuff in.

nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge like. I've been to Gatlinburg Ripley's museums. and just all sorts of just cool. >> super kitsy touristy stuff. I think um. >> oh what's his name uh the guy who sings. proud to be an American Lee Greenwood. >> there's the Lee Greenwood cafe where. they no joke play that song. >> oh no. >> on a loop over and over again the whole. time you're like when's where's the next. song they don't play the next song. >> I heard that song every night of the.

summer for like five summers when I. worked at the Stone Mountain Laser show. >> Oh yeah I'll bet. >> I got my fill of it. >> Yeah. Uh so we can talk a little bit. more about her politics. She's and this. is where the sociologists and. anthropologists come in. Uh there's a. sociologist named Trese McMillan Cotum U. that has written about how black women. have always looked up to Dolly Parton as. a role model. Uh even though she is like. it's a very specific sort of white. southern thing that she embodies. >> Uh again just you know testifies to her.

crossover appeal that she is to be. admired by anybody. um her Q score. Uh. if you don't know what a Q score is, it's a marketing tool that basically. there's a bunch of things that go into. your Q score, but it's basically how how. much people like you, how much they. recognize your name. And her Q score is. like legendarily one of the top Q scores. of all time celebrity wise. >> She has a high positive Q score. They. also do a negative Q score and she has a. very low negative Q score. So she's. among the most beloved and among the.

least disliked people in the entire. world. Yeah, I don't want to know my Q. score. I. >> I looked it up. We don't have one yet. >> Okay, good. >> But um I was reading this article on the. conversation and these two Australian. marketing people were trying to figure. out who would have been Australia's. Dolly and they landed on Hugh Jackman. and I'm like I can't disagree with that. >> He's pretty likable. >> Sure. Everybody likes Hugh Jackman. >> Yeah, I would agree with that. >> Even though he did The Greatest Showman, >> right, >> people still like Hugh Jackman. Uh the.

anthropologist comes in, a man named. Jonathan Zilberg in 1995. um talked about how she was loved in. Zimbabwe. of all places. And again, it's just. like, you know, pick a pick a country. and chances are people there love Dolly. Parton. >> And in Dolly Parton's American, then. they talk about how Nelson Mandela um. while he was in prison in South Africa. got his uh jailers to play Jolene for. the whole.

>> Yeah. whole jail basically all um Shaw. Shank Redemption. >> Uhhuh. >> Pretty cool. >> Pretty cool. Uh and like you said. earlier, she she basically just avoids. politics. She doesn't let any politician. on either side use her music. Um if a. Democrat uses it, she shuts them down. If a Republican uses it, she shuts them. down. >> She just sort of sidesteps all that. stuff. Um, she's always, um, been, you. know, growing up, of course, in the 70s, there were a lot of playground jokes. about Dolly Parton's breast size. She.

was very well known for it, and she's. always been the first one to jump in and. joke about it herself. >> Instead of being like the butt of the. joke, >> she can just go along with it. And. that's just that's another really. likable quality is someone who can and. can laugh at themselves and not take. things too seriously. I also saw it put. that she um she knows that these jokes. are going to be made anyway, so she can. diffuse them by getting out in front of. them and topping, you know, the lame. jokes that like old talk show hosts.

would make. >> Yeah. >> Um I saw once she said that she burned. her bra and it took the fire department. three days to put it out. Like that kind. of stuff. That's hilarious. >> That was her joke. >> Yeah. >> Oh, that's good. That's very funny. >> So, I think we mentioned this before. Do. you know that um Dolly the sheep, the. first cloned animal on the planet, was. named Dolly because it she was grown. from a mammary gland cell? >> Yeah, >> I can't remember where we talked about. that, but it really just goes to show. like.

>> that's how that's how ubiquitous Dolly. Parton's boobs were in the 20th century. >> Like they were as big as she was. basically. >> Yeah, >> they were definitely part of they were. definitely part of her brand for sure. >> Yeah. you know, she was smart enough to. lean into it. >> Mhm. >> Uh, another thing that she had done over. the years is she there are a lot of. really dark songs that she's written. about, uh, even though she's never kind. of outright considered herself a. feminist, she very much is. Uh, and a. lot of the songs she's written over the.

years have been very dark songs about. women who are either abandoned or. suffering from sexual double standards. or there's a one brutal song from 1970. called Daddy Come and Get Me about a. true story of a relative in her family. that was basically institutionalized by. her husband. >> So, she's never been afraid to go down. sort of in the tradition of the old sort. of dark country murder ballad thing, go. down these darker roads with some of the. songs she's written. >> Yeah. I saw that she considers herself. um not a feminist, but in favor of all.

women. She's for all women. So, it's. like she doesn't subscribe to the. movement part, but what the movement's. ultimately about, she's totally in favor. with. And that's super her. >> Um, she she made a very rare overt. statement um when she came out in. support of Black Lives Matter. >> at a really like. >> at a time where it was like you're. casting your lot one way or another. Um, and she stood up for it. Um, which is.

pretty cool. >> She did. Uh she also uh in 2018 there. was um at Dollywood the Dixie Stampede. um she changed the name to Dolly Parton. Stampede after people complained about. the the whole Dixie connotation. >> and Civil War theme. She changed that up. and she was just like you know I never. really thought about you know the. Confederate im imagery meaning what it. meant to to people and so she was hap. happily changed it. Uh, and that's just. the kind of person she is, I think. >> And she got guff for that. And she got.

guffed for supporting Black Lives Matter. from some of her um her right-leaning. fans. But she she can always explain. herself, you know, and she does so in. such a great way that you're just kind. of like, well, fine. It's hard to be you. can't keep a grudge against her, even if. she goes against you politically, but. she just so rarely does it. >> Yeah, agreed. Uh, she is uh we're going. to wind it down with her business and. philanthropy. um very savvy business. person from the very beginning. Uh she.

was smart enough to hang on to her um. the rights to her own music and never. give them up. Even when Elvis Presley. came calling. >> Yeah. >> and wanted to cover I will always love. you. He wanted half the publishing. rights and she was like no way. >> Take a walk Elvis Presley. >> He didn't. Apparently Colonel Tom called. her up on the morning of the scheduled. recording session and sprung that on her. and she turned him down. And she said. she was hoping that Elvis was was as. disappointed as she was. But that took a. lot of gumption, especially to have it. sprung on you like that. And she said,

"Nope, >> not doing it." But that's one of the. things that made her so incredibly. wealthy. Like apparently her music. catalog has a net worth of about $150. million. >> and brings in about 6 to8 million a year. for her according to I think Forbes. >> And then her stake in Dollywood is her. her um her most valuable asset. I think. it's like $165 million. Pretty neat. >> She has done quite well for herself. >> Yeah. >> Uh she I mean these days she's she's not.

stopping either. She's um she's on. Duncan Hines Buttermilk Biscuit Mix with. her little cartoon face. They have. fragrances branded by Dolly. Uh they. have pet clothes that she's branded. with. Um like just all kinds of things. She's not afraid to license her image. No. Uh, for sure. >> We've got that um the Duncan Hind. frosting in our pantry. >> Do you. >> the chocolate chocolate cream frosting? And then one other thing I saw Chuck, she wrote a book, co-wrote a book with.

James Patterson, one of the best Oh, wow. most favorite novelists in the. entire world. It's called Run Rose and. it's a thriller based kind of loosely on. Dolly's story of of making it in the. music business. >> Oh, wow. >> Yeah. I think it just came out. >> Okay. I might have to check that out. >> Yeah. >> Uh, she is very charitable as well. She. started the Dollywood Foundation in 1988. uh just to get literacy going in her. home county and it grew and grew and. grew to the point where it is now in the.

US, Canada, Australia, the UK and. Ireland and to date uh the program has. given out more than 204 million books. >> across these countries and um you know. she'll build a hospital in her county um. anytime there's like wildfires nearby. She's chipping in. Uh she very famously. donated a million dollars to Vanderbilt. University Medical uh center for COVID. 19 vaccine research and you know people.

don't credit her with the Mona vaccine. but they're like that million dollars. was instrumental in getting that vaccine. to trial. >> Well yeah she also was like everybody go. get jabbed. She there was a video that. went around of her um getting her own um. vaccine when the first one I think. >> um and she was singing vaccine to the. tune of Jolene. >> Pretty nice Diane. >> Yeah, exactly. It was great. So, um, one. other thing though about her foundation, I one reason she got into literacy, um,

programs was because her father never. learned to read. And apparently he told. her just before he died that he was most. proud of her for for that work that. she'd done with with promoting literacy. around the world, which it's pretty. cool. It makes it even neater. >> Uh, and in addition to the vaccine. Jolene song, she also did a version of. uh, I will always jab you. >> That was less popular. >> Less popular. Sounds a little. aggressive. >> She's been nominated for 53 Grammys. 53.

Uh she's won 10, which I think that. number should be higher. Uh but you. know, they have given her like lifetime. achievement awards and uh Jolene and I. will always love you were inducted into. the Grammy Hall of Fame. So they have. like heaped awards on her even when she. has not won the actual Grammy. Uh and. she's also won an Emmy, >> right? >> Yeah. She was also up for two Oscars for. best song for um oh Traveling Through. for Trans America in I think 2006 and.

then um 9 to5 the song. >> did 9 to5 not win. >> no it was beaten by fame. >> Oh boy that's a tough year. >> Traveling through was beaten by hard out. There for a pimp from Hustle and Flow. >> That's a good song too. >> How you going to top that? >> It's really hard. I was getting getting. ready to trash whatever beat out nine to. five. But yeah, fame fame is a great. song. That's a that's a tough year. >> That's a very tough year. But she also. has two two Guinness World Records to. her name. One of which is most decades.

with a top 20 hit, >> which really just goes to show how long. she's been around and how long she's. been huge. >> You know what else she has two of? >> What? >> Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, too. >> I know. Is there anybody else who has. that? >> I I think so. people in different media, although uh probably not a lot of. people. I bet it's a pretty short list. Um, one in 1984 and then one in 2018. when uh I guess the final trio of trio.

albums came out. >> So, if you think Dollyy's slowing down, friend, you are dead wrong. >> Yep. >> She's got a new album coming out. So, she was inducted in the Rock and Roll. Hall of Fame despite her protest. She's. like, I'm not a rocker. Apparently, she's like, "All right, well, I better. go be a rocker and earn that honor." Um, she So, her next studio album, her 49th, is coming out, I think, this fall. Um, and it's called Rockstar, and she's. going to be singing with some other rock. stars, too. >> Yeah. Stevie Nicks, uh, Paul McCartney,

Sher. I love it. >> Yep. Vince Neil. >> No, not Vince Neil. >> That's correct. Not Vince Neil. >> Oh, just kidding. >> That'd be pretty amazing, actually. Um, you got anything else about Dolly. Parton? Oh, I've got one other thing. before you answer. She wakes up at 3:00. a.m. every day. >> Oh, and just daughter of a sharecropper. >> Yeah, I guess so. >> That's amazing. >> Okay. You got anything else? >> I got nothing else. >> Okay. I don't either. I don't think. But.

I'm going to think of 10 things after. we're done recording. >> I know. I'm gonna I've been listening to. Dolly Parton all day, so it's going to. continue on. >> Yeah. It's not hard to do. Uh, if you. want to know more about Dolly Parton, friend, go listen to Dolly Parton. Go. watch videos of Dolly Parton. Go read. interviews with Dolly Parton. She was. once described as a black belt. interviewee. So, you'll never be. disappointed with a Dolly Parton. interview. And since I said you'll never. be disappointed by a Dolly Parton. interview, that has opened up listener. mail.

Uh, I'm going to call this great email. follow-up from Arcades. Uh, hey guys. Wanted to tell you a story of my very. traditional grandmother. Uh, she was very traditional in the. Midwestern sense and she was a. homemaker. Oh, yeah. Got books for my. grandfather's iron working concern. She. didn't tolerate cussing or fussing and. was a conservative dresser. >> She liked the calico. >> She didn't have any have any obvious. vices save one. Pac-Man. >> Oh, yeah. >> To hear her tell it, there was a time. where she would wake up before her.

husband and five children, power up the. Atari, and start a Pac-Man game. After. 30 minutes or so, she would get. breakfast on the table, get her family. out the door, and do the books, clean. the house, and then finally get back to. her paused Pac-Man game, which she would. play until it was time to start dinner. when her family came back home. >> That's awesome. She had Pac-Man fever. >> That's good. Uh, wouldn't be much of a. story, guys, except here's the thing. She was really, really good at Pac-Man. >> Oh, yeah. >> She once told me she had the first 40ome. levels memorized and could use them to.

rack up points and then, uh, thus extra. lives. She got to a point where she. could play the same game all day long. Eventually, she would describe getting. to a high enough level where the game. would freeze. >> Oh. >> And what she was describing was level. 256, the kill screen. >> Mhm. But since she was home alone every. time she reached it, and the internet. wasn't a household thing, no one ever. knew what she was talking about. >> She just ran out the door be like, "Somebody, anybody come look.". >> Uh, it was until many years later that I. saw King of Kong and saw the footage of. the kill screen my grandmother had.

described. couldn't believe my eyes or. the fact that my conservative. grandmother was such an early skilled. gamer. >> That's neat. >> She since passed away, but every time. the subject of Pac-Man comes up. >> brings a smile to my face and I remember. her and her high scores. Uh, that is. from Aaron Miller of Kansas City, the. Kansas side. >> Oh, that's rare. You don't usually hear. from those people. >> Kansas side. >> Mhm. Uh, well, thanks a lot, Aaron. That's a fantastic story. I'm glad you. could smuggle that message out of the. Kansas side of Kansas City to us. And if.

you want to be like Aaron and get in. touch however way you can, try putting. it in an email, sending it off to. stuffodcast@ iheartradio.com. Stuff you should know is a production of. iheartradio. For more podcasts, iMheart. radio, visit the iheartradio app, Apple. podcasts, or wherever you listen to your. favorite shows.